The Bread Crusts

The bread crusts the Doireann scavenges from under couches and tables serve as a symbol for her sacrifices. As she labors to take care of her family and breast feed her babies, the narrator only allows herself to eat the scraps left behind by others. She sets aside her bodily need for nourishment and sleep in favor of caring for her children and later Eibhlín Dubh. Throughout the novel, the narrator is forced to confront the fact that she inflicts a willful erasure of her own identity through sacrifice and self-denial.

The Lists

Ní Ghríofa utilizes the lists that Doireann creates throughout her day as a symbol for female labor. Doireann spends the majority of her time in a domestic sphere, taking care of children, changing nappies, and cleaning rooms. While her work is not considered a job, she continually gives of...